Page 96 of Pied Sniper

“She won’t fail,” said Mom. “None of you will. All you kids are smart cookies and so are your kids.”

“But it’s important Victoria explores a broad range of activities and gets exposed to all the diverse professions she can aspire to. I don’t know if she’ll get that kind of education otherwise.”

“Why don’t you try our daycare?” suggested Jord. “They have lots of fun classes and activities.”

“I hardly think it would be suitable for an advanced child like Victoria. Plus, she really likes her daycare. One of the managers used to be a nanny for the British royalty! But I realize your expectations for Poppy are lower.”

“Pardon?” said Lily as the dining table quieted.

“Well, I can understand why you don’t want Poppy to experience failure now, or in the future. She’s just not suited to the kind of life Victoria can attain,” continued Serena.

“And that means what?” asked Jord icily.

“She’s the child of a police officer and a bar manager, that’s all.” Serena shrugged.

Before I could help her aim accurately, Lily plucked Poppy’s milk bottle out of her mouth and slung it across the table where it hit Serena squarely on the nose. Serena blinked, obviously astonished and stunned.

“That’s enough now,” said Mom, her voice the quiet blend of seething and annoyed. The same tone she used to inform us as children that we needed to vamoose… and fast.

“Exactly right, Mom! That was totally uncalled for, Lily, but you always were trashy. I was just politely trying to explain that Poppy doesn’t need that kind of competition for a child of her capabilities…” started Serena.

“I meant you, Serena. I have never been so ashamed of you before but I am today,” Mom replied.

“Because Aunt Serena is an asshole, isn’t she?” asked Sam. He looked up from his food and glanced around.

“We don’t say that word,” said his mom, Traci.

“You all say that word all the time,” snorted Sam. “Dad once said it sixteen times in one day. I counted them.”

“Asshole,” giggled Victoria.

My mom shot to her feet and opened her mouth but stopped when several phones began to ring. Solomon, Maddox, Garrett, Jord, Delgado and Farid all pulled their phones out and began to talk at once. While I tried to see what was going on, I reached for Lily’s hand. “Thanks,” she whispered.

“I’m trying to stop you from going for the knife,” I said softly. “Your aim is too good,” and Lily giggled behind her free hand.

“We have to go now. Sorry, Mom, Dad,” said Garrett as chairs were summarily scraped back and excuses traveled around the room. “Something happened on the case.”

I pulled out my phone. No calls. “What happened?” I asked.

Maddox leaned in. “Davy gave us the slip. Our officers got suspicious when he stayed in the bathroom too long. They broke the door down and discovered he climbed out the window. We have to track him down.”

“And you?” I asked Solomon.

“Tiffany’s parents are live on the news. They’re making wild claims and the tip line is going nuts.”

“Do you need to go?” asked Lily.

“Do I?” I asked Solomon, hoping he received the psychic signal that was required now in this moment.

“No,” he said. “I can handle it so long as you can get a ride home.”

“We can go together,” said Lily. “I think I’ll leave soon.”

“Whenever you want to go works for me,” I said.

“Fifteen minutes max,” said Lily. “And thank you for returning my car in one piece. That was a relief.”

“It’s not like I wreck all my cars,” I sighed.

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